Margaret Thatcher branded Arthur Scargill and the other leaders of the 1984-5 miners' strike ;'the enemy within'. With the publication of this bestselling book a decade later, the full irony of that accusation became clear. There was an enemy within. But it was not the National Union of Mineworkers that was out to subvert liberty. It was the secret services of the British state - operating inside the NUM itself. Seumas Milne revealed for the first time the astonishing lengths to which the government and its intelligence machine were prepared to go to destry the power of Britain's miners' union. Using phoney bank deposits, staged cash drops, forged documents, agents provocateurs and unrelenting surveillance, MI5 and police Special Branch set out to discredit Scargill and other miners' leaders. Planted tales of corruption were seized on by the media and both Tory and Labour politicians in what became an unprecedentedly savage smear campaign. In this new edition, published for the twentieth anniversary of Britain's most important postwar social confrontation, new material brings the story up to date - and, in the wake of the Iraq war intelligence scandals, highlights the continuing threat posed by the security services to democracy today.

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Product details

Paperback : 512 pages
ISBN-10 : 1844675084
ISBN-13 : 978-1844675081
Product Dimensions : 1.32 x 0.36 x 1.98 cm
Publisher : Verso Books; New edition (13 April 2004)
Language: : English

Best-sellers rank 555,775 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
662 in Economic Labour
874 in UK Politics
1,096 in Military History of Military Intelligence & Espionage

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98 ratings

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"A real-life thriller." - Evening Standard "One of the most remarkable demolition jobs ever." - Spectator "A tribute to detailed journalistic investigation ... strips away the myths and lies." - New Statesman "An astonishing book." - The Nation "Riveting. It knocks spots off the usual 'whodunnit'" - Guardian

Synopsis

In this new edition, published for the twentieth anniversary of Britain's most important postwar social confrontation, new material brings the story up to date - and, in the wake of the Iraq war intelligence scandals, highlights the continuing threat posed by the security services to democracy today.

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2 star		2%
1 star		4%

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Amazon Customer

Not what I expected

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 August 2018

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After reading the book's description, I expected an account of the miners' strike and how the Government sought to undermine it. Instead I got a dissertation on the NUM's leadership and its challenges/challengers. This is a very well researched book, however, owing to that the author goes into the minutest of detail about obscure occurrences, which led to quite a boring read. If you're after a general history of the strike and the war against the miners, then this book isn't for you; if you're after a comprehensive account of the NUM leadership for academic purposes, then I am sure this will be great read.

7 people found this helpful

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Mr. Paul James SMITH

Probably One Of The Best Books Ever

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 July 2018

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I'm old enough to have lived through this period whilst working in Leeds.

If I had known the full facts at the time, explained so well in this exceptional book my opinions would have been so different.

Those foolishness enough to believe we live in a free democracy should read this and think carefully.

Well written. Informative. Frightening.

4 people found this helpful

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Poppy Ann Miller

Excellent piece of investigative journalism

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 16 May 2015

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For those who want a thorough account of events during the UK miner's strike and its leader and activist, Arthur Scargill, 'The Enemy Within', is a must. Seamus Milne supports his written work with documented evidence, including dates, times and places, of decisions and conversations between media, politicians, and union leaders, both in the UK and worldwide. An astounding piece of work. I found I had to re-read parts as the information is so comprehensive, I needed another look for it to sink in. One of, if not, the most comprehensive accounts of a crucial time in British history, illustrating the beginnings of the dismantling of the UK union movement.
Highly recommended.

4 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Revealing but too partial to Scargill. He was wronged but far from saint.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 20 October 2019

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Very interesting to start with but was disappointed that it did not deal with the miners' strike so much as its aftermath. I felt it was also one sided, even though he presents a lot of evidence on his side. I feel the history of coal, the National Union of Miners and the Miners' Strike in the UK remain to be written.

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gda

Everyone should read this

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 January 2020

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Well written and well researched. For those of us who lived through this shameful episode, and saw up close the disgraceful tactics employed by the government against British citizens at that time, this book will inform and shock but won't surprise. For those who thought - or think - that strikers are a bunch of disruptive, Marxist hooligans, this book will change your mind.
Should be compulsory in British schools.

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Antony Mumford

Virtually unreadable

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 8 January 2020

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Having lived in an area affected by the strike I bought the book very interested to read Mr Milne’s take on it, even though I was mindful of likely partiality. I’m afraid that despite making a number of attempts I found it so turgidly boring that I had to give up. Visiting union offices and ploughing through meeting minutes from 50 years ago would have been far more interesting. Almost as bad as trying to decipher the literary theory of French intellectuals (in French!)

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neil barrington

The truth

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 12 October 2018

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I always strongly suspected there was a multitude of dirty tricks and subterfuge used during the 84-85 miners strike. This book lays it bare. Just shows the incredible lengths the Thatcher government was prepared to go to break the union. A must read

One person found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Very good

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 May 2017

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I wish we had had this book before now because this tells you in no uncertain terms the way things were manipulated against the miners- excellent author.

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Philip M Grice

A great read about corrupt British governent activities

Reviewed in the United States on 24 May 2016

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Everyone should read this book. It reveals how easily a right wing administration supported by state security can subvert the will of the people, even in a country such as Britain. The public must keep alert to these situations and Seumas Milne has produced a conclusive revelation of just how corrupt our so called democratic can be if we allow them to get away with it. A great read. Europeans and Americans need to read this book.

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Jack Cade

terrific

Reviewed in the United States on 5 December 2004

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Scargill and Heathfield are heroes --God knows we need them now more than ever! What this book does is expose the pressure and the violence capital will use when confronted with real opposition--it makes watergate look like nothing. Remember the annhilitation of the PKI in 1965 or think about the growing carnage in IraqI just wish that Gen Giap had with the miners in 1984. It was noi orginary strije--it altered a world --and it is a testament to the book that Arthur is still around to organize opposition to "turbocapitalism"

One person found this helpful

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Lebera

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on 21 October 2016

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Superb! A well researched view into the secret workings of the British establishment.

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David J. Triggle

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on 26 August 2014

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Another firstrate conspiratorial drama: wish that it had been longer to amplify many details.

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The Enemy within: Thatcher's Secret War Against the Miners Paperback – 13 April 2004

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